To accept workplace’s offer of using their insurance after tree fell on my car ?

[Lis1992]

I posted yesterday about what happened. A large branch of a tree (essentially a tree!! One of those huge branches with multiple others. ) fell on my car in the car park of my workplace. Obviously no one’s fault but terrifying. I’m still in bits about what could have happened. Given what it did to the edge of car, you can imagine the situation if it hit my windscreen. I was in the car. My boss came to me and said the company’s insurance can take the claim under third party.

I’ve no idea what any of it means, as I’ve never had to use my insurance in my life. So they told me no need to use my own insurance.
I’ve to get them an estimate of costs to fix the car and they’ll take it from there. Said there will be an excess but they’ll cover it. AIBU to do this? I’m not the type to ‘claim’ and I didn’t approach work about it they came to me. I was just going to use my own insurance. Is this me ‘claiming’ from them, or is it reasonable that they would offer their insurance in this case? Sorry if I sound clueless! I am with this type
of thing and I’m the least litigious person.

That's the right thing for your boss to do, this way your no claims shouldn't be affected. He or someone in your office will have to process it through their insurance company and might need copies of your licence etc, my colleague had damage to his car at work when a gate blew down, work insurance covered it not his.

@SgtJuneAckland oh thanks this is really helpful. I wasn’t sure what they said it I was like
‘oh but does it put you out ‘🙈

They will have property owners liability insurance and this is the sort of thing it covers.
Even if you claimed on your own car insurance its likely they would look to recover their costs from your employers insurance anyway.

If they have offered definitely explore this first.
I'd say it's not guaranteed though. It's liability insurance and they would have to be sure that your employer has been negligent. Ie it was foreseeable and your employer could have done something to prevent it.

Public liability insurance isn't always dependent on negligence. It covers unforeseen events on premises that cause damage to 3rd Parties on the premises without having to prove the policy holder was negligent. Accidents do happen that nobody is actually to blame for them happening. This is probably one of those situations.

If you tell your insurance, even if it's was someone else's fault, your insurance premiums will go up. So if they just deal with it, then that's good!!